Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-05
GALES and Skstehes.
A VILLAGE SCANDAL.

81 do not believe it !" said Mrs. Grant,
emphatically.
But what everybody says must be
true" persisted Mrs. Jones.
"By no means,' said Helen Grant.
"Once everybody said the world was fiat.
now we all know it is round"
Jefftry. II don't know it's round, but
I'm willing to believe it on good evidence.
Thank heaven, I'm not so stubb IN won't
believe. I'm one of the sort that can be
convinced of a thing even if don't see it.
Mrs Grant flushed little, and tears
came TO her eyes.
.'She is my friend, and love her dear
w." she said. "She has taults-every one
can see that-but this wicked, shameful
story, simply cannot believe it. Oh,
Mrs. Jeffrey, can you not see that is mat
ter Of couscienceawlt me as well as with
you? ?" sxB AsSs
Mrs. Jefftry, a little ashamed but OF the
same opinion still, rose to go.
eff thel mat er is brought up in the
church, you will then hear all the evil
dence After you see the letter you may
then change your mind"
Pine Falls was convulsed over its first
scandal The tongue OF eensure, that had
family reproved when Abram Harris had
carried his mother off to the poorhouse,
and INDUCED in audible criticisms when
Laura Cowles had been baptized in the
river in midwinter during church revi-
val and died of infammatory rheumatism
week afterward, had now broken silence
and carried the story from house to house
until it was on every body's lips.
A mania for visiting seemed to have
broken out among the ladies'. Half a
dozen could be seen any day, with little
going to make informal visits or calls at
the homes of their intimate friends or
neighbors. To be sure each lady was
very particular to explain, if opportunity
offered. that she had promised Mrs. So
and-so a new stitch or pattern, or she had
been intending to take her work and run
in" to see Mrs Such-a-one for six months
or more. 1t was really shame to neglect
ones neighbors so.
Mrs. Jefflrv and Mrs. Martin were
seated on the back porch OF the jeffrey
mansion. engaging in earnest and conf
dental conversation. Overhead in the
apple tree the robin sang umheard. On
the floor mischievous kitten played with
Mrs. Martins ball of zephyr, tangling the
thread unheeded. while her crochet work
lay idly in her lap.
"She always did seem to be frivolous
to me" remarked Mrs Jeffrey. "No care
of her house. no interest in domestic mat
tiers. There's a good deal said in these
DAYS about a woman's hiding q God given
talent under bushe, and smothering her
genius under domestic drudgery; but
I've noticed that the women who are do
nestle and take interest in their homes
are not the women who figure in scandals
and Opponents"
Perhaps, !" replied Mrs. Martin wholwas
not so conservative as her neighbor,
"there's great deal of human nature in
women as well as in men. Most OF them
take an interest in some one thing besides
housekeeping. With some it is painting.
with others music, others fancy work or
religion. I've known women who were
really dissipated. you might say. in relig-
ious work they carried it to such unrea-
sonabe lengths. You and |. not being
gifted in any of these directions, have
gone on in plain, quiet home life. But
we must not on that account, find fault
with those VINO see lie lToul uiHSieut
standpoint or call them frivolous because
they take an interest in things we don't
care for. Mrs. Downs was always fond
of dress and fancy work. but until this
story came out everybody seemed to like
her."
well. yeu can say what YOU please"
returned Mrs. Jeffrey wrathfully, "when
woman behaves herself, she won't be
talked about. The most shameful part of
the whole affair is her assuming inno-
cence. saw her myself walking the
streets with Mr.. Cotton only last evening,
as cool as you please. Ii there is man in
this village that pity it's Jack Downs"
The next day was Sunday, and the min
lister, Mr. Snow looked around at the
rapidly filling pews with a feeling of calm
complacency. Everybody belonging to
the congregation was there. Every face
wore an expression of keen expectancy,
and when Jack Downs entered with his
pretty wife, significant looks were ex.
changed and suppressed sensation was
visible throughout the audience.
Youthful and pretty, she added to these